Elections 2008

Prop. 2: Sustainable Farming Practices Protect Animals, Water, Air

By Paul Mason, Sierra Club California Deputy Director

Sierra Club California's volunteers and activists support The Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act, a measure for the November ballot. This Californians for Humane Farms-backed initiative sets minimum standards for the way California treats its farm-raised animals.

If Californians vote for this measure, farm animals would be able to stand up, turn around and fully extend their limbs. This will most benefit California’s approximately 19 million egg-laying chickens. Under the provisions of the proposition, these chickens would be able extend their wings without touching the edges of their cages.

Although these types of farming aren’t as common in California, the provisions also would apply to the confinement of pigs during gestation, and of calves raised for veal.

As Californians for Humane Farms has said, the way some factory farms keep their animals has definite quality-of-life implications. I don’t think anyone would confuse sustainable farming practices with some farmers’ current practice of putting chickens in cramped “battery cages” that don’t let them spread their wings. Some of the hens raised this way don’t even have a space the size of a full piece of paper, according to the backers of the measure.

Putting the issue of animal cruelty aside for a moment, factory farms also directly affect California’s watersheds. When concentrated densely in "animal feeding operations,” or factory farms, chickens produce more intense amounts of waste than they would if raised more sustainably.  Lower-impact farming practices, on the other hand, produce less dense concentrations of nitrogen, ammonia and other compounds that pollute our groundwater and soil.

Many areas of California’s Central Valley already must address the groundwater contamination caused by these compounds, and some sources of groundwater already have become undrinkable because of the presence of nitrates and ammonia.

But Proposition 2 faces an uphill battle from the operators of these large-scale farms, as well as from powerful agribusiness associations. They assert that the restrictions will lead to the elimination of the egg market in California.

However, this ignores the growing demand for cage-free eggs in California. Even though cage-free farms cost a little more to run, their better-tasting eggs are in great demand from chefs, retailers and restaurants, from Whole Foods to Wolfgang Puck to Burger King.  And, even though I don't claim to be any great cook, they make their way to my frying pan!

It might cost a little more “chicken feed” to provide California’s farm animals with basic improvements, but Sierra Club California is certain it will lead to less pollution and more sustainable farming practices all over the state.

Check out the Humane Society's "Top 10 Reasons For Supporting Prop. 2 (opens as pdf)"

JUNE 2008 : Read more about our "green victories" from the June primaries:

An Election Day Full of Wins for Sierra Club California.

Green Wins: Statewide

Sierra Club has endorsed the following candidates:

Assembly:

AD 1 - Wesley Chesbro

AD 6 - Jared Huffman

AD 7 - Noreen Evans

AD 8 - Mariko Yamada

AD 9 - Dave Jones

AD 13 - Tom Ammiano

AD 14 - Nancy Skinner

AD 16 - Sandre Swanson

AD 18 - Mary Hayashi

AD 19 - Jerry Hill

AD 21 - Ira Ruskin

AD 22 - Paul Fong

AD 23 - Joe Coto

AD 24 - Jim Beall, Jr.

AD 27 - Bill Monning

AD 35 - Pedro Nava

AD 40 - Bob Blumenfield

AD 41 - Julia Brownley

AD 42 - Mike Feuer

AD 43 - Paul Krekorian

AD 44 - Anthony Portantino

AD 45 - Kevin De Leon

AD 46 - John Perez

AD 47 - Karen Bass

AD 49 - Mike Eng

AD 50 - Hector De La Torre

AD 53 - Ted Lieu

AD 54 - Bonnie Lowenthal

AD 55 - Warren Furutani

AD 62 - Wilmer Amina Carter

AD 66 - Grey Frandsen

AD 69 - Jose Solorio

AD 76 - Lori Saldana

AD 77 - Raymond Lutz

AD 78 - Marty Block

Senate:

SD 5 - Lois Wolk

SD 7 - Mark Desaulnier

SD 9 - Loni Hancock

SD 11 - Joe Simitian

SD 19 - Hannah-Beth Jackson

SD 21 - Carol Liu

SD 23 - Fran Pavley

SD 27 - Alan Lowenthal

SD 39 - Christine Kehoe